General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsPete Seeger has died
Wonderful man and humanitarian - R.I.P,
Pete Seeger, the singer, folk-song collector and songwriter who spearheaded an American folk revival and spent a long career championing folk music as both a vital heritage and a catalyst for social change, died Monday. He was 94 and lived in Beacon, N.Y.
His death was confirmed by his grandson, Kitama Cahill Jackson, who said he died of natural causes at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital.
Mr. Seegers career carried him from singing at labor rallies to the Top 10 to college auditoriums to folk festivals, and from a conviction for contempt of Congress (after defying the House Un-American Activities Committee in the 1950s) to performing on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial at an inaugural concert for Barack Obama.
For Mr. Seeger, folk music and a sense of community were inseparable, and where he saw a community, he saw the possibility of political action.
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David__77
(23,220 posts)Fighter for justice, revolutionary, and artist!
Electric Monk
(13,869 posts)nt
icymist
(15,888 posts)red dog 1
(27,648 posts)I'll miss him too.......look how young he was in that photo...probably from the 1940s.
countryjake
(8,554 posts)TheMightyFavog
(13,770 posts)Lifelong Protester
(8,421 posts)Very meaningful to the Madison protesters. We will miss you, Mr. Seeger.
LWolf
(46,179 posts)for DU.
Elwood P Dowd
(11,443 posts)RIP Pete and tell Lee Hays and Ronnie Gilbert hello. I still play some of that old Weavers stuff on my turntable. You were a great human being.
eridani
(51,907 posts)Sag mir wo die Blumen sind
Wo sind sie geblieben
Sag mir wo die Blumen sind
Was ist gescheh'n
Sag mir wo die Blumen sind
Mädchen pflückten sie geschwind
Wann wird man je verstehn
Wann wird man je verstehn
Sag mir wo die Mädchen sind
Wo sind sie geblieben
Sag mir wo die Mädchen sind
Was ist gescheh'n
Sag mir wo die Mädchen sind
Männer nahmen sie geschwind
Wann wird man je verstehn
Wann wird man je verstehn
Sag mir wo die Männer sind
Wo sind sie geblieben
Sag mir wo die Männer sind
Was ist gescheh'n
Sag mir wo die Männer sind
Zogen fort der Krieg beginnt
Wann wird man je verstehn
Wann wird man je verstehn
Sag wo die Soldaten sind
Wo sind sie geblieben
Sag wo die Soldaten sind
Was ist gescheh'n
Sag wo die Soldaten sind
Über Gräbern weht der Wind
Wann wird man je verstehn
Wann wird man je verstehn
Sag mir wo die Gräber sind
Wo sind sie geblieben
Sag mir wo die Gräber sind
Was ist gescheh'n
Sag mir wo die Gräber sind
Blumen blüh'n im Sommerwind
Wann wird man je verstehn
Wann wird man je verstehn
Sag mir wo die Blumen sind
Wo sind sie geblieben
Sag mir wo die Blumen sind
Was ist gescheh'n
Sag mir wo die Blumen sind
Mädchen pflückten sie geschwind
Wann wird man je verstehn
Wann wird man je verstehn
Wann wird man je verstehn
Ach wird man je verstehn
--and translated Die Gedanken Sind Frei into English
http://www.metrolyrics.com/die-gedanken-sind-frei-lyrics-pete-seeger.html
Die Gedanken sind frei, wer kann sie erraten,
sie fliegen vorbei wie nächtliche Schatten.
Kein Mensch kann sie wissen, kein Jäger erschießen
mit Pulver und Blei: Die Gedanken sind frei!
Die gedanken sind frei
My thoughts freely flower
Die gedanken sind frei
My thoughts give me power
No scholar can map them
No hunter can trap them
No one can deny
Die gedanken sind frei
Ich denke was ich will und was mich beglücket,
doch alles in der Still', und wie es sich schicket.
Mein Wunsch und Begehren kann niemand mir wehren,
es bleibet dabei: Die Gedanken sind frei!
I think as I please
And this gives me pleasure
My conscience decrees
This right I must treasure
My thoughts shall not cater
To duke or dictator
No one can deny
Die gedanken sind frei
Und sperrt man mich ein im finsteren Kerker,
das alles sind rein vergebliche Werke.
Denn meine Gedanken zerreißen die Schranken
und Mauern entzwei: Die Gedanken sind frei!
Tyrants can take me
And throw me in prison
My thoughts will burst free
Like blossoms in season
Foundations will crumble
And structures will tumble
And free men will cry
Die gedanken sind frei
Ron Green
(9,821 posts)Rest in peace.
RoccoR5955
(12,471 posts)anti partisan
(429 posts)He was fighting the good fight to the end of his prolific life. Sadly, there will never be another like him.
red dog 1
(27,648 posts)R.I.P. Pete Seeger.
hollysmom
(5,946 posts)so many memories of seeing him. He was really from my parents generation but he was so strong a union man.
FairWinds
(1,717 posts)! Presente !
The first song my kids learned from me was
"this land is your land"
Now I'm teaching it to my grandson.
Veterans for Peace
handmade34
(22,755 posts)I can not listen to any of his songs right now though or I will cry uncontrollably
LWolf
(46,179 posts)when I taught elementary ages, year after year after year. There was no better metaphor for my calling.
Hekate
(90,202 posts)He was a wonderful human being, and leaves a legacy to be treasured always. How lucky we were that he walked this Earth in our time.
dixiegrrrrl
(60,010 posts)He was a National Treasure.
retread
(3,752 posts)demmiblue
(36,751 posts)Thank you, Mr. Seeger, for making the world a better place for all of us.
me b zola
(19,053 posts)LWolf
(46,179 posts)Watching Tao on stage with his grandfather over the years, I've often pondered what it was like to have that man, with his heart, soul, and presence, to grow up with, to follow.
eridani
(51,907 posts)http://lyrics.wikia.com/Pete_Seeger:Well_May_The_World_Go.
Chorus
Well may the world go,
The world go, the world go,
Well may the world go,
When I'm far away.
Sweet may the breezes blow
Clear may the rivers flow
Blue above, green below
When I'm far away.
Chorus
Sweet may the fiddle sound
The banjo play the old hoedown
Dancers go round and round
When I'm far away.
Chorus
Swift may the skiers turn
The swimmers churn, the lovers burn
Peace, may the nations learn
When I'm far away.
Chorus
ReRe
(10,597 posts)You changed many things in this mean old world with your songs. And your songs will go on changing the world, turning and turning until they get it just right. Now you are with Toshi again...
malaise
(267,845 posts)I love Pete Seegar
LuvNewcastle
(16,820 posts)she was his rock. I thought then that he probably wouldn't be with us much longer. I hope he's able to be with her in some fashion in the hereafter. Congratulations on a life well-lived, Pete Seeger. You fought the good fight until the end. You were much-loved and now you'll be missed!
Nanjing to Seoul
(2,088 posts)Loss of a great man and voice.
Thank you, Pete Seeger. Roll On Columbia, roll on!
Hoyt
(54,770 posts)Tanuki
(14,893 posts)Pete was the greatest American of my lifetime, with the most reliable moral compass. What joy, hope and inspiration he brought to so many.
[img][/img]
_Picture of Pete in the dark days of McCarthyism, refusing to testify against his peers
http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/USAseeger.htm
Bjorn Against
(12,041 posts)Many musicians are called heroes, he was one of the few that was actually worthy of that term. He did so much to stand up for civil rights, environmental protection, and he stood up to Joe McCarthy.
May he rest in peace, the world will not be the same without him.
B Calm
(28,762 posts)DinahMoeHum
(21,737 posts)He planted all kinds of trees and seeds, musically, socially, politically, environmentally.
We, the children, grandchildren, and future generations now eat the fruit.
KoKo
(84,711 posts):hope:
femmocrat
(28,394 posts)He had a long and very full life. Rest his soul.
LWolf
(46,179 posts)when my alarm went off at 4:30 AM as usual here on the left coast.
I want to honor his life, yet at the moment I haven't moved beyond feeling devastated by his loss.
Who will be the voice for peace, for togetherness, for environmental and social health?
countryjake
(8,554 posts)We're left with all of his music.
I feel much the same as you, but carrying on that music he's inspired us with for so long, is, I think, what he would probably want us to do. We can keep right on singing along.
classof56
(5,376 posts)How to say enough good things about Pete? I am at a loss for words. I'm thinking the best way to honor him is to never forget his words and to act upon them. Back in the 60s, I attended a Weavers concert in Denver, and was privileged to see Pete in person. What an amazing musician he was, and he turned his beliefs into actions. His legacy will live on, but right now there's a hole in my heart and millions of others, knowing this awesome man is no longer with us. I cannot imagine who will speak so eloquently and with such passion advocating for the things you mention. We can all do our part in whatever small way we are able.
Guess I wasn't at such a loss for words after all, but I'll stop now and let the tears take over.
Blessings, peace and a candle for Pete.
You said it. More eloquently than I can.
classof56
(5,376 posts)Even the weather allowed us to pause and reflect today, inside where it's warm and dry, with schools closed and roads treacherous. Have listened to a lot of Pete's music this morning. My soul is enriched.
Best.
B Calm
(28,762 posts)on Pete Seeger.
femmocrat
(28,394 posts)Sure beats Morning Jerk.
B Calm
(28,762 posts)they'll rerun it at noon eastern time. I missed the beginning.
KoKo
(84,711 posts)And, those who haver ROKU can watch all her shows on Free Speech TV in the Channel Store.
Generic Other
(28,979 posts)You can pay your respects if you wish to comment.
http://www.youtube.com/user/PeteSeegerOfficial/discussion
ellie
(6,928 posts)RIP Pete Seeger. They don't make 'em like you any more.
MineralMan
(146,192 posts)You'll be missed, but always remembered.
Le Taz Hot
(22,271 posts)we could give to Pete Seeger is to follow his example as activists and agents for social and economic change.
LWolf
(46,179 posts)KoKo
(84,711 posts)that where I saw him at his Clearwater Concerts to clean up the Hudson River...back in the 80's.
randome
(34,845 posts)I only say that because it seems that Seeger appreciated that kind of off-beat humor.
[hr][font color="blue"][center]Everything is a satellite to some other thing.[/center][/font][hr]
bullwinkle428
(20,627 posts)K&R.
hrmjustin
(71,265 posts)Paladin
(28,204 posts)Seeger is certainly worthy of the tribute.
B Calm
(28,762 posts)Paladin
(28,204 posts)A mention in tonight's address would be appropriate, as well.
Ohio Joe
(21,656 posts)RIP
ananda
(28,783 posts)... tears in my eyes. So beautiful.
Brickbat
(19,339 posts)yurbud
(39,405 posts)flamingdem
(39,304 posts)realitysandwich.com/54979/conversation_pete_seeger/
He and friends built the Clearwater Sloop, a reproduction of a 19th Century cargo ... Because of these and other's efforts, the Hudson is now open for swimming .. It's still a charity - clearwater.org for details.
RIP Pete